Of matanzas



UNITED STATES GEORGE L. WASHINGTON, OF MATANZAS, OUBA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF PATENT OFFICE.

TO JACOB D. WOLF, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

"FIBER FOR CORDAGE, TEXTILE I-LABRICS, 8 c.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 272,361, dated February 13, 1883.

Application filed December 15, 1882. (Specimens) To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE L. VVASHING- TON, a citizen of the United States, and. a resident of Matanzas, Island of Cuba, have invented an Improved Fiber for Cordage, Textile Fabrics, &c.,of which the following is a specification. 4 I have discovered that valuable fibers permeate the leaves of the plant known by the botanical name of Sansev'iem or Sansem'em Africana, and that the'fibers can be extracted and made available for the manufacture of cordage, textile fabrics, 850. There are two or three plants of the species, all indigenous in the Island of Cuba and other West India Islands, and, doubtless, in other tropical countries, and they can be cultivated in the southern part of Florida. The leaves of this plant are from four to sixfeet long, and from two and a half to five inches across at the'widest part. Each. leaf is composed, mainly, of a mass of fibers extending from end to end of the leaf. In order to separate the fibers, I have hitherto subjected masses of the leaves in a green state to the action of steam, and While the leaves are saturated with moisture I have scraped them,

areready for use. This is the hand process 30 which I have hitherto practiced; but I propose to use machineryfor separating the fibers more economically. Thefibers admitof minute subdivisions, and, being of great length, are especially well adapted to the manufacture of 5 cordage, rope, &c., and, being of a silky texture, they may be applied, either alone or in connection with other fibers, to the manufacture of textile fabrics.

I claim as my invention As a new article of manufacture, fibrous strands suitable for the making of cordage, textile fabrics, &c., produced by separating the fibrous portions of the leaves of the plant Sanseoiem, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Y GEO. L. WASHINGTON. Witnesses J 0s. H. WASHINGTON, J 081?. MANUEL LOVIE. 

